Mode edit tools

The mode edit tools

With this tool, you can convert a selection into a mask which can be edited with any of the painting tools. Edges can be distorted, and filters, or effects applied. You can then convert the mask back into a selection.

To apply a quick mask, first make a rough selection with the lasso, or any other selection tool. Then click the quick mask button, which is the icon shown at right, above. A reddish semitransparent mask will cover all areas outside the selection boundary. Note that you don't have to make an initial selection before clicking the quick mask button. However, doing so will cut down on the area that you will need to paint in black.

You can edit the mask by painting with any of the painting tools. Use black to add to the mask (the reddish area), and white to subtract from it. Use the switch color button, which is #28 in the toolbar diagram at left, or press X on your keyboard, to jump from black to white. Painting with gray, or any other color creates a semitransparent area sometimes used for feathering, or anti-aliasing.

Once you have the mask just the way you want it, click the standard mode button, shown at left above, to convert the mask back to a selection. If you want to save the selection for possible reuse, or just to be on the safe side, choose Selection > Save Selection. This will create an alpha channel which can be loaded as a selection any time you need it. Channels are saved, and can be accessed and edited in the Channels palette.

Note that areas which are more than 50 % transparent will not be included in the ‘marching ants’ selection outline, but they will be effective in any application that the selection is used for.

The keyboard shortcut for the quick mask is the letter Q.

Click here for a graphical step-by-step tutorial on how to use the quick mask tool.

• Marquee tool
• Move tool
• Lasso tool
• Magic wand tool
• Crop tool
• Slice tool
• Airbrush tool
• Paintbrush and Pencil tools
• Stamp tool
• History Brush
• Eraser tool
• Gradient and bucket
• Blur, sharpen, smudge
• Dodge, burn, sponge
• Path tool
• Text tool
• Pen and anchor
• Shape and line
• Notes tool
• Eyedropper, measure
• Hand tool
• Zoom tool
• Color Picker
• Mode tools

Photoshop Tutorials

	Creating spooky text - 6+7
	Creating 3d Text - 6.0
	Creating Engraved text - 6.0
	Working with colormasks - 6.0
	Using the quick mask tool - 6.0
	Creating perfect rounded edges - 6.0
	Slicing a graphical interface - 6.0
	Creating torn and burnt images - 6.0
	Creating realistic wires - 6.0